Apparatus for supplying water to a steam generator



JuneZ 1970 F D. GRAY 3,515,209

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO A STEAM GENERATOR Filed Aug. 21, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fore; I 0. Gray June 2 1970 F, D. GRAY APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO A STEAM GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1968 United States Patent Office 3,515,209 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO A STEAM GENERATOR Forest D. Gray, Bakersfield, Calif., assignor to Tenneco Oil Company, Houston, Team, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 754,347 Int. Cl. E21b 43/24 US. Cl. 166-62 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In an apparatus for supplying water from a well to a steam generator. The pump is arranged to continuously pump water from the well through a closed water-treating system to the steam generator thereby eliminating the need for a raw water storage tank, a soft water storage tank and additional pumps which are usually required, as well as operating controls therefor.

This invention relates to an apparatus for supplying water from a well to a steam generator. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for supplying water directly from a well through a closed water treating system to a steam generator which apparatus eliminates the use of many components heretofore utilized in prior art installations.

The high cost of operating a steam generator and of producing steam in connection with thermal oil recovery operations, for example, has shown the need for cost reductions. At the same time, it is desirable to have a system which will deliver the required amount of water to the steam generator at the required pressure.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a system which can effectively and economically supply water to a steam generator, which steam generator may be used in a thermal recovery operation, without the use of storage tanks and transfer pumps which have customarily been used in the past.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a system to maintain a desired supply of water at any desired rate of pressure to a steam generator without the use of storage tanks and additional pumps, limited only by the capacity of the supply well to produce the water.

Briefly stated, the invention is for an apparatus for supplying water from a well to a steam generator. The combination of the invention includes a pump arranged to continuously pump water from the well. The system also includes a closed water-treating system connected to the generator for supplying treated water thereto as required thereby. In addition, there is provided a water conduit connecting the discharge end of the pump with the water-treating system, with the conduit and pump being arranged to pump water through the water-treating system to the generator at a predetermined pressure.

Certain embodiments of the invention may have a return line communicating between the water conduit and the well for returning previously-pumped water thereto. In this instance, a pressure relief means is provided and connected for sensing the water pressure in the conduit and diverting water through the return line to the well when the water pressure exceeds a predetermined level. This pressure relief means can conveniently take the form of an adjustable pressure relief valve whereby the desired pressure may be set thereon and maintained thereby.

Alternatively, a pressure relief valve may be provided on the discharge end of the pump and arranged for maintaining a constant water pressure in the conduit and to vary the back pressure on the pump, which alternative is particularly useful in pumps with high pressure bowl 3,515,209 Patented June 2, 1970 assemblies designed to handle the additional pump pressures encountered.

One preferred form of the pump is a centrifugal type pump such as a vertical line shaft turbine pump.

Reference to the drawings will further explain the invention wherein like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one form of the pump means shown mounted in a typical Well.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a typical well head installation such as that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram showing the well head connected through a closed. treating system to the steam generator, which in turn is connected to the steam injection well.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a water well is shown and generally designated by the numeral 10 and is provided with a casing 11 therein and a concrete pump base 12 mounted thereover.

A well head 13 is mounted on base 12 and over the upper end of casing 11 with a gasket 14 therebetween. It is to be understood that well head 13 includes a turbine engine arranged to rotate pump shaft 15 depending downwardly through water production pipe 16 suspended below well head 13 and inside of casing 11 as shown.

A packer seal assembly 17 is mounted at the upper ends of casting 11 and production pipe 16 to seal the annulus therebetween to prevent the admission of air into the well.

Production pipe 16 has supported on the lower end thereof the bowl assembly 18 of a vertical line shaft pump which is arranged for turning by pump shaft 15, with the discharge from the pump being into production pipe 16. Bowl assembly 18 provides the intake for water and is therefore located below the water level 19 in the well.

Production pipe 16 connects with water line 20 at well head 13 which in turn is connected to the closed watertreating system which is to be described hereinafter. For purposes of convenience, production pipe 16 and water line 20 may sometimes be referred to as a water conduit.

In certain situations, it may be desirable to pack the space between casing 11 and the bore of well .10 with gravel 21 which may be done through gravel chute 22 v the upper end of which is closed by a plug 23 as shown.

Pressure relief means are also connected for sensing the water pressure in the water conduit and diverting water back to the well when the water pressure exceeds a predetermined level. These means conveniently take the form of sounding line 26 connected to water line 20' at the well head 13 and discharging into the upper end of casing 11 as shown. Sounding line 26 has included therein an adjustable pressure relief valve 27 which is arranged for sensing the pressure in' water line 20 and relieving pressure thereon through sounding line 26 when the water pressure exceeds the pressure set thereon.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it is to be understood that the return line includes sensing line 28 connected to water line 20 through well head 13, and return line 29 which discharges into sounding line 26..

Referring now to FIG. 3, the closed water feeding system of the invention will be described. There, water line 20 is shown connected to and discharging through a plurality of sand filters 40 of conventional design which discharge to line 41 which in turn discharges to a pair of water softeners 42 which in turn discharge to line 43. Line 43 discharges to a pair of polishers 44 which in turn discharge to intake line 45 of steam generator 46, all of conventional design, but being closed one to another.

In a thermal recovery process, the steam generator 46 is, of course, connected by line 481 to well head 49 of an 3 injection well penetrating a hydrocarbon formation where the-'thermalTecovery operation is to be carried out.

It is to be understood that the water treating system just described from water line 20 to steam generator 46 is closed such that the water pressure created by the rotor of the water pump in well is sufficient to force water through line and through the various components of the water treating system to the steam generator 26, such that treated water is supplied to generator 46 at the desired rate and pressure, limited only by the water production capacity of the well and the pumping capacity of the water pump in the well.

Thus, by way of summary, the foregoing system describes a vertical line shaft turbine pump installed in a Water supply well, which pump is utilized to pump Water throughout the generator feed water system continuously to steam generator 46. The line pressure is controlled by means of pressure relief valve 27 installed adjacent well head 13 as shown and which relief valve is set to maintain the desired line pressure. Excess water is returned to well 10 through sounding line 26. Accordingly, a continuous supply of water is available at steam generator 46 at a constant pressure at any desired rate, limited only to the design output of the turbine pump and the producing capacity of the water supply well. The system of this invention eliminates many prior art components and, in particular, eliminates the use of storage tanks such as a raw water tank, a pump pumping from the raw water tank, a soft water tank and a pump pumping from the soft water tank, as well as operating control therefor.

An alternate system for controlling pressure on water line 20 is to install a pressure reducing valve on the discharge end of the water pump, which valve would maintain a constant line pressure and vary the back pressure on the pump. For example, pressure reducing valve 50 may be installed on line 20, as shown in FIG. 2, and operated as desired, instead of valve 27. This alternative system is useful in pumps with high pressure bowl assemblies designed to handle the additional pump pressures encountered.

Regardless of whether or not the line pressure is controlled by a relief valve, such as pressure relief valve 27 or a pressure reducing valve 50 on the discharge end of the pump, it is desirable to have a control arranged such that the Water pump will be shut down when water flow stops to prevent damage to the pump. This could conveniently take the form of a flow sensor mounted in flow line 20 and arranged to terminate power to the motor operating the water pump, in the event the well 10 runs dry or in the event that there is a stop-up in the system preventing water flow therethrough.

Further modifications may be made within the scope 4 of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed as illustrative only and is not to be construed as a limitation upon the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for supplying water from a well to a steam generator at a predetermined pressure, the combination comprising:

a pump arranged to continuously pump water from said well at a predetermined rate;

a closed water treating system connected to said generator for treating and supplying treated water thereto as required thereby;

and a water conduit connecting the discharge end of said pump with said Water treating system, said conduit and said pump being arranged such that the pressure of the water in said conduit created by said pump is substantially constant and sufficient to force said water through said treating system to said generator.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including:

a return line communicating between said water conduit and said well for returning previously pumped water thereto;

and pressure relief means connected for sensing the water pressure in said conduit and diverting water through said return line to said well when said water pressure exceeds a predetermined level.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including:

a pressure relief valve on the discharge end of said pump and arranged for maintaining a constant water pressure in said conduit and to vary the back pressure on said pump.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said pressure relief valve is an adjustable valve whereby the desired pressure may be set thereon and maintained thereby.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said pump is a turbine pump.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,163,281 6/1939 Hillier 10321 X 2,852,031 9/1958 Schellens 137-l1 X 3,193,009 7/1965 Wallace et a1. 166-272 3,294,024 12/1966 Meyers et al. 10321 STEPHEN J. NOVOSAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l6697 

